City staff health guidelines adopted

Users of the C.V. Starr Community Center may soon see some changes in the foods available in vending machines there, following an action by the City Council Monday night.

At its regular meeting, the council chose to eliminate certain unhealthy foods from vending machines located on city property, as part of its new Healthy Eating and Employee Wellness Guidelines. Mayor Dave Turner noted that the guidelines do not apply to all vending machines in city limits.

A staff report, prepared by Ginny Feth-Michel, the city's senior government accountant, summed up the reasons for the guidelines.

"In August of 2012, the council adopted Resolution 3563-2012 recognizing our community's efforts to improve health, joining California's Healthy Eating, Active Living Cities Campaign and resolving to establish and implement an employee wellness policy that would:

1) Encourage City employees to walk during breaks and to walk and bike to work;

2) Set nutritional standards for vending machines located in city-owned buildings; and

3) Set nutritional standards for food offered at city events and meetings. According to the 2007 California Interview Health Survey, as reported in the April 2010 Mendocino County Community Health Status Report, produced by the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency, Community Health Services Branch, 16.3 percent of Mendocino County children and 31.4 percent of teens are of above normal weight. 62.9 percent of adults in Mendocino County are either overweight or obese."

Donna Schuler, Mendocino Coast District Hospital wellness coordinator said the resolution was a way of addressing the problem of obesity and that the hospital supported the action.

"The Vending Machine Nutritional Standards were developed to parallel the standards established by and in use at Fort Bragg High School, with two notable differences: The proposed guidelines include restrictions on sodium and added caffeine," said staff reports.

"Most Americans consume more sodium than is good for their health, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most processed foods include significant amounts of sodium; therefore the sodium guideline was added. Caffeine is added to many foods including, sodas, energy drinks and candy bars. Caffeine can be addictive and can cause increased anxiety, nausea, and insomnia, especially in children."

Two Fort Bragg High School students, Pablo Narez and Jasmine Florez suggested that diet sodas, electrolyte drinks and canned drinks containing bisphenol-A (BPA) be removed from machines at the Starr Center. Narez noted than many of the snacks which are heavy in sugar and calories are placed at a child's eye level in the machines, making it the first thing they see and as convenient to get as asking their parents for a dollar. He also noted that electrolyte drinks are designed to be used after extreme workouts, rather than following light exercise.

Council member Doug Hammerstrom said he supported the removal of diet sodas, as well.

Petra Schulte, Fort Bragg Unified School District's nutrition teacher, said that while some foods, such as toaster pastries and drinks high in caffeine and sodium, may meet the new guidelines, they are still junk food. She suggested the city require nutrient rich foods instead.

"The Nutritional Standards for Foods Offered at City-Sponsored Events and Meetings require that snacks, beverages and meals purchased with City funds and provided at City-sponsored events and meetings comply with the requirements of the Vending Machine Nutritional Standards. The Guidelines set forth less strict standards for meals offered at events and meetings," said staff reports.

Schuler said she was happy to hear that cookies and coffee will no longer be the standard at public meetings. Feth-Michel said the guidelines do not apply to what employees bring to meetings and parties, only to food purchased with city funds.

While guidelines apply fully to machines in city-owned buildings, a machine at Fort Bragg Police Department, which is not available for public use, would only have to achieve 75 percent compliance. While some questioned it, Council member Scott Dietz said that, given the number of hours officers work and the fact that they have a workout room at the station, he would support allowing them to have any snacks they want.

"The city currently provides opportunities for employees to engage in healthy activity levels while at work and new programs have been initiated that will make a positive impact on employee wellness. The Healthy Eating and Employee Wellness Guidelines summarize current programs and make suggestions for additional activities," said staff reports.

Feth-Michel said vending machine operators are willing to work with the city to comply with the guidelines but hope for flexibility so they can still offer sweet snacks that are known to sell.

Council member Meg Courtney questioned the concept of offering water in plastic bottles and suggested a refilling station or additional drinking fountains at the C.V. Starr Center.

All agreed that removing diet soda from machines was a good idea, but they did not come to a decision on electrolyte drinks.

Mayor Turner suggested that, should any questions come up over an item's nutritional value, staff could consult with Schulte.

The council unanimously approved the guidelines as amended. The full list of guidelines can be found on the city's website under current agendas, Jan. 14. item 5A.